Presentation
Swelling after falling with occipital head strike
Patient Data
No acute fracture or dislocation is noted.
Note: On the frontal image, the patient's head is slightly rotated to the right.
Case Discussion
This case is an example of a normal skull series comprising the anteroposterior (AP) and lateral views. These projections may differ in other departmental protocols.
Important points to note when positioning:
anteroposterior (AP): the primary beam should enter the patient's orbital roof and exit at the occiput
lateral: for a true lateral view of the skull, ensure the sella turcica is in profile
Anatomical inclusion for a skull series should only include the skull and at most, slightly inferior to it. There is often a tendency in digital radiography to not collimate as much, and do a post-processing crop on the image. The lack of collimation not only affects the quality of the radiograph but also heightens the possibility of scatter hitting the digital detector 1,2. Radiographers performing skull radiography should be mindful of their positioning, to ensure adherence to ALARA principles.
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